The unofficial begin to the 2026-27 San Antonio Spurs season arrived on Sunday evening, as practically 15,000 followers packed the Frost Financial institution Middle for annual the Silver and Black open scrimmage, their first take a look at the squad since its run to the NBA Finals simply over 4 months in the past.
Listed here are three takeaways from the open scrimmage:
Tobias Harris to overlook preseason
The most important information from Sunday’s scrimmage got here earlier than the ball ever hit the ground. The Spurs introduced that Tobias Harris, their lone acquisition from the offseason, would miss the complete preseason after struggling a left calf pressure throughout coaching camp.
Harris averaged 13.3 factors and 5.1 rebounds for the Detroit Pistons a 12 months in the past and crammed what the Spurs have been lacking throughout that NBA Finals run: dimension and flexibility. After the scrimmage, Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson stated the group wouldn’t rush the veteran ahead again, including there isn’t a trigger for concern.
“It’s a calf pressure, the seriousness is what it’s,” he stated. “We received’t rush him in any respect. I suppose the query will probably be is he prepared for the season opener? Completely questionable and we won’t push that in any respect. So, we’ll take it gradual. There isn’t any concern of this degree of seriousness, and on the similar time, we won’t rush him in any respect.”
Fortunately for the Spurs, they’ve gamers they’ll flip to in these kind of moments. Anticipate Julian Champagnie to fill Harris’ footwear within the beginning unit.
Champagnie to construct on breakout season
Julian Champagnie earned himself an enormous payday after his breakout season a 12 months in the past, which noticed him turn out to be a risk from outdoors and a key cog on this younger Spurs group’s rise to the NBA Finals. Now, he’s seeking to construct on that and present why San Antonio had religion in him to ink him to an enormous contract.
Spurs assistant coach Billy Donovan drew up an elevator display for Champagnie, who knocked down the triple from the highest of the important thing. He continued to get out within the open court docket and scored in transition. One thing new he added to his recreation? He attacked the rim and drove inside as a substitute of settling for 3’s.
That may very well be one other added weapon for the Spurs, who obtained too “three joyful” on multiple event throughout the postseason run final season. Coach Johnson together with Donovan will possible make adjustments for the Spurs to work inside and outside extra typically this season. That will probably be one thing to observe when the preseason begins on Thursday.
David Jones-Garcia underwent surgical procedure earlier within the 12 months after struggling an ankle damage with the Austin Spurs. Over the summer season, San Antonio re-signed DSG to a two-way contract. His return to the court docket has been a protracted journey, but when Sunday’s scrimmage if something to go by, he is able to make his mark on the sport.
Jones-Garcia was pulling up from three, driving the paint, and getting out in transition. He confirmed his quickness, working with Wembanyama and Fox on a three-on-one rush to the basket and his ankle seemed prefer it was holding up effectively.
With the preseason beginning on Thursday, Jones-Garcia will look to do extra to impress the teaching employees and profit from his time on the court docket. If he can construct on his season from final 12 months and his ankle continues to point out its improvment, he may shock everybody in 2026-27.
